IntHERrupt

Many people encounter the feeling of stagnation. So how can we push past those feelings and be the change that leads to change? On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the co-founder and CEO of Pav*r, Jessica Bledsoe, to discuss her thoughts on the issue. 

Any kind of leader can face stagnation.

• Jessica has seen it play out in a few ways because we all get comfortable where we’re at. When we get comfortable, we might take our foot off the gas.
• It can be for any length of time, but you’ll realize you’ve stopped progressing in your goals and future. 
• To avoid stagnation, Jessica has three tips. Always be intentional with your actions, listen to the feedback you receive, and constantly evaluate your current activities.

Create time to be innovative:

• Jessica, like many people, relies on her calendar. If you schedule your time, look at what takes up your time and determine if those activities are worthwhile. 
• People, especially women, get in the habit of saying yes to things we probably shouldn’t (like filling our calendar with back-to-back meetings.)
• Only say yes to the things in alignment with your vision for success.

How can stagnant leadership impact an organization?

• If that’s the energy you bring to the table, it will trickle down to everyone else around you.
• The more it continues to happen, the more difficult it gets to move forward.
• Encourage yourself and others on the team to be excited about things happening in the organization.

Be the change that leads to change (even if you aren’t the “leader.”

• Be confident and comfortable expressing your ideas. If you’re technically not the “leader,” understand how to best communicate your idea or suggestion to them.
• Come with a plan of action (especially one backed with data) because it’s difficult to ignore that request or action.

Starting change to get out of your rut:

• Evaluate where you’re at. If you feel stuck, what’s keeping you stuck (and can you change it?)
• Break it down into the smallest chunks possible to make it more actionable.
• Accept that you probably didn’t fall into the rut overnight, so it will probably take more than one night to get out.
• The biggest time-wasters are the things we think don’t take a lot of time (that do.)
• Consider checking your email throughout the day rather than keeping it constantly open. Establish specific time blocks when you’re available for meetings. Do what you need to to create a healthy and productive environment for yourself.

For more great content from Jessica, connect with her on LinkedIn. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions. 

Can you apply the techniques and practices of professional singing to be a better workplace professional? (The short answer? Yes!) In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by board-certified musical therapist and vocal coach Lisa Townsend to teach us how to combat worry in the workplace. 

Feeling confident in the face of worry:

• First, check with yourself. If you know how you feel, you can find the flow of conversation.
• Know your audience and read the room. If you’re aware of how to present and act, you can help overcome feelings of uneasiness. 
• Authenticity and vulnerability are everything. People can tell when you're saying what they want to hear versus what you believe. 
• Maintain a steady speech rhythm, take intentional pauses, and show you’re actively listening to a conversation.
• In every line of text or singing or speech, practice is the opportunity to be again. Pausing allows time for processing and vulnerability that people should take to display confidence.

Confidence combats negativity:

• When we have the confidence to speak up about something when it happens, that opens us up to mending problems sooner. If we catch the problem quickly, there’s less time to fall into a negative mindset. 
• Negative communication is (in part) due to people letting behaviors slide and developing negative feelings towards another. 
• Direct communication doesn’t have to be negative. For example, directly expressing your likes and dislikes to another lets them avoid including it in conversation.

Lisa’s tips to combat negativity and find confidence:

• Ask yourself, “Is this an appropriate time?” You’ll feel more confident in the conversation when giving full attention to it. Make sure the time is right, and your presence is right. 
• Take intentional pauses and respond only once you’ve thought through the conversation.
• Permit yourself to table a conversation to process it. Ask if something can be revisited in the future or if the audience needs a decision at that moment.

How do you use music?

• She works with entrepreneurs who are becoming bolder with their voices but have hangups. (For example, they might be self-conscious about their volume or pitch.)
• She does creative voice work that isn’t about learning lyrics but rather about lyrical phrasing, full-body support, breathwork, and learning to anchor.
• Applying these vocal techniques to a speaking voice increases confidence and our ability to express empathy towards another. 

A final takeaway from today’s episode? Many things are happening in the world, but the only thing that we can control is our own reactions. Connect with Lisa by visiting her website (lisatownsendmusic.com) to see more of her work!

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Leadership combines many elements to create someone capable of leading with confidence. One of those elements, while often forgotten, is etiquette. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by etiquette expert, author, and founder of The Protocol School of Palm Beach, Jacqueline Whitmore, to discuss how any business leader can integrate etiquette into their practice. 

What is business etiquette?

• It’s a consideration for others. (Yes, that’s a broad statement.) 
• While specific actions like thank-you notes and moving the knife and fork correctly at dinner are nuances of etiquette, consideration for others guides those actions.
• It’s the art of knowing how to treat other people, whether you're in an elevator at a conference, a cocktail party, or in the boardroom.

Learning and exemplifying etiquette helps in leadership:

• Etiquette is not innate - it’s an acquired skill. 
• The important etiquette for a corporate professional depends entirely on the events and communications they need. Based on those, polish manners based on your lifestyle.
• The purpose isn’t to change someone; it’s to enhance what they already bring to the table.

What do you see as the challenge to etiquette?

• Technology has completely changed the way we do business, and the pandemic resulted in a necessary understanding of zoom and virtual etiquette.
• It always starts with the individual to overcome these changes - are you open to the change and opportunity etiquette offers?
• Rather than learning everything about etiquette all at once, focus on learning the most applicable information first.

Jacqueline’s top three etiquette tips:

• School is never out; because learners are earners. So always learn something new each day.
• Surround yourself with talented, positive people.
• Keep an open mind. Whether doing business in the US or abroad, people act based on their background. Minds are like parachutes - they only function when they’re open.

Above all, Jacqueline urges you to be humble (because nobody likes arrogance.) Connect with her on LinkedIn and check out her website etiquetteexpert.com. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions. 

The future of our society rests with the younger generation, and preparing them for that time is critical. But what measures can we take to raise the leaders of tomorrow? In today’s episode of IntHERrupt, Linda is joined by Tapestry Academy founder Candace Lehenbauer to discuss how she approaches education to educate kids on academics and prepare them to lead the future with confidence. 

Candace is the ultimate “edupreneur.”

• First and foremost, a mom to six kids, she also found a way to mix education with entrepreneurship by creating a micro-school.
• Micro-schools are small schools, anywhere from 5-150 students, focusing on project-based, student-led programming that allows students to give input into what they learn.

What opportunities do you see for the youth?

• There are a ton of opportunities, especially for young girls.
• As long as we support children and encourage them to build their interests and passions, we’ll see the results of that mentality.
• Teaching leadership is a crucial feature for young children to learn. 

Kids today face different challenges than we did.

• From a mom and teacher perspective, Candace sees many kids too dependent on technology.
• Kids need an opportunity to think, use their imagination, and play dangerously. 
• The challenge is allowing creative play without over restriction. When parents (or any adult) solve all their kids’ problems, they never learn how to deal with those interactions themselves.

Teaching tomorrow’s leaders:

• Reinforce the importance of looking at others with love, respect and appreciation.
• Building a relationship of trust with kids is the best way to convey meaningful lessons that they’ll be more likely to accept. 
• Forcing kids to behave or think a certain way is not conducive to long-term success.

How you can build trust with the youth:

• Bringing food is a simple and easy strategy. It might be cheesy, but it works.
• If you need to have a difficult conversation with your child or teenager, don’t do it face-to-face. Instead, sit next to one another, share a snack, and just talk.

For those living in the Florida area, visit microschoolflorida.com to find micro-school opportunities near you. Visit Tapestry Academy’s website at ​​tapestryacademy.com. 

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

The phrase “what goes around, comes around” is applicable in many situations. And leadership is one of them. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by professional communicator Monique Russell to discuss how unlocking your best self is best accomplished through helping others be their own best self.

What defines someone’s best self?

• Your best self is when you can be honest with yourself, considering how you get along with others and how you experience and show compassion. 
• It’s also embracing all parts of who we are - the good and the bad.
• Monique found her best self after years of coaching and therapy. No matter how many accolades we have, internal development fosters deeper connections with others.
• You don’t know what you don’t know. And opening up and letting vulnerability embrace you can help with the process.

Helping others see their best self:

• Think about parents - you can teach and talk all day long, but kids ultimately mirror the actions and behaviors rather than listen to words.
• Leaders who struggle to realign with their team find it challenging to advocate for someone else when both parties are overworked and burning the candle on both ends.
• The best way to help others is by setting the example to take care of yourself.

What can you do when you slip back into unhealthy behaviors?

• We are not robots, meaning we’ll never get to a place devoid of obstacles. 
• When faced with a crisis, give yourself grace. Look at past times you’ve faltered and determine what you did to overcome those challenges.
• Don’t look at the big mountain; just look at the next small step.
• We are empowered by sharing. Share to story to find additional empowerment.

Three steps to be your best self:

• Have a vision - without vision, you’re operating on a default idea.
• Get connected with a community (and community can mean just one or two people) who can help you be accountable to yourself.
• Think about your health. No matter what you do or strive towards, it’s far more difficult when you aren’t in a great place of health. 

Follow Monique on LinkedIn and check out her podcast, Bridge to U, for discussions on diversity, inclusion, and understanding for black cultures. Also, you can find her book, Intentional Motherhood: Who Said It Would Be Easy?, on Amazon. 

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

When we talk about women in leadership, there are a ton of important concepts to discuss. However, one of the most important is how women must show up for other women. To talk about this, Linda is joined by trainer, motivator, and coach Maria Brown. As a Sr. National Sales Corporate Trainer for GBS, Maria is a knowledgeable speaker capable of generating win/win results for others. 

There’s always more space for encouragement and positivity.

• Women encouraging other women starts with the strength and confidence we have within ourselves. 
• Her past boss is a great friend of hers and was a genuinely supportive woman. She hired Maria, gave her the tools to succeed, and encouraged her to go beyond her comfort zone.

Life is a journey, and life support isn’t reserved exclusively for the emergency room.

• The people we surround ourselves with need support on a daily basis. That daily nurturing of one another is what keeps us going.
• When she didn’t feel supported, Maria wondered what happened in their lives that led to judgemental or critical behavior. 
• It’s important to pause and shift energy to focus on the good of the person. 

Why is it important for women to support women?

• Women are innately nurturing, and we have strength in our vulnerability. 
• Brene Brown talks about this extensively. And, deep down, we all want to talk about this conversation. 
• Women should be comfortable in their skin, and we can drive this by showing up for one another.
• Do you think of something positive about someone you see? Bring it to life! What’s stopping you from speaking?
• Girls compete with one another, but women empower one another. And that speaks to maturity.
• We need to open the conversation, but we have so far to go. Unfortunately, that feeling and mentality still exist in many workplaces. 
• It doesn’t matter where you are on the corporate ladder. You can lead by example in all areas of life. 

How to be more supportive and uplifting: 

• We’ve been competing with one another to earn that seat at the table. 
• We can’t lose our femininity. (Meaning our instincts and intuition.) Our vulnerability is our strength, so don’t compromise yourself to be that seat at the table.
• If you notice someone has a negative mentality, ask yourself how you can shift their minds back to a supportive mindset.
• Don’t react defensively; begin with empathy. Find common ground and initiate the shift.

Maria’s parting thoughts? Never give another human the impression that what they’re saying doesn’t matter. When we interrupt each other, we’re saying what you have to say is more important than someone else. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn for more great content.

To end in a quote, “Women who understand how powerful they are do not give into envy over meaningless things. Instead, they fight or maintain the beautiful bond of sisterhood. These are the real women who know that we need each other’s love and support to survive in this world. Love is the essence of being a woman. We must be that light of love that seals the bond and unique beauty of our sisterhood.”

Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions. 

Across the world, people are living in vulnerable situations. And unfortunately, some people take advantage of others’ misfortune. In today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by  Dawn Manske, founder of Made for Freedom, to learn more about what types of situations lead to vulnerability and exploitation. 

Dawn first encountered this problem when she lived in China. 

• While she lived there for ten years, Dawn learned about the excessive number of young girls abandoned by their families. (The problem has abated over time, but it’s still an issue today.)
• Dawn also met people who worked specifically with street children because of the exploitation and labor vulnerable children were subjected to at the hands of others.
• The exploitation she saw made Dawn think, “how can I fight this?”

She then realized the power of clothes. 

• Dawn’s husband gifted her a pair of sandals, and they were made by vulnerable women who were paid fairly for their work. Similarly, she received pants from Thailand.
• Dawn thought about starting an import business but didn’t think it aligned with her life goals.
• But when she thought about it, she realized she could accomplish her mission of helping others through this business model.
• She started down the road of understanding sex trafficking. She found several other businesses that sold products to raise money to benefit the women working, and Dawn began selling their products to people in the United States. 

What does vulnerable mean?

• It looks different to everyone. We’re all vulnerable, to some extent. And issues like poverty lead to more vulnerability.
• Anytime someone is exposed to a negative situation, there is vulnerability.  And then you have people ready to take advantage of that vulnerability.
• She visited Nepal to meet with a partner center, and she saw poverty she had never seen before. A month after she left, there was a massive earthquake.
• She and her husband are foster parents, and the foster system is a breeding ground for trauma and vulnerability because their trust is broken.

How can you regain confidence after being exploited and begin to heal?

• It’s a long road. It’s not something that happens quickly, Because that trauma is never gone. 
• Working with your hands is therapeutic. That’s why these work centers are great because women have a safe place to work with women who understand what they’re going through.

For more great content from Dawn, follow her on LinkedIn and visit her company website Made for Freedom. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions. 

We are our own worst critics. People tend to focus on their flaws rather than embrace the beauty seen by everyone else, and young girls growing up aren’t encouraged to look in the mirror and say, “I’m beautiful.” Today on IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by cosmetologist and professional makeup artist Ariane Poole to discuss beauty and how to love what you see in the mirror. 

Many people struggle to look in the mirror.

• And, unsurprisingly, this is true across women of all ages. In particular, for Ariane, she notices this thought in her clients 45 and older. 
• In reality, everyone has good parts and bad parts. Every person has beauty.
• To Ariane, being centered and confident makes a person beautiful, not necessarily the physical qualities someone possesses. 

The goal of makeup is to reflect the inner beauty on the outside.

• Beauty can be found in anything uplifting. When Ariane works with clients, she listens to their way of being, lifestyle, and what they like or dislike about their face. 
• To love yourself, accept what you are right now. However, understand that things can change.
• When finding beauty, it’s about seeing the possibilities.

To the women who don’t like makeup:

• What do you hate about it? Certainly, it can feel heavy or uncomfortable, and it can be a time commitment. 
• In Ariane’s experience, the person who hates makeup has experienced trying to look like someone else. But makeup is meant to enhance you as you are, not make you someone else.
• If you are concerned about using makeup, you can apply small amounts yet still get transformational results.

It’s cliche, but it’s true: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. People have different preferences for face shape, eyes, hair, style, virtually everything. But feeling beautiful is good for your being. Taking small steps to focus on yourself can be all it takes to revitalize your energy, confidence, and ability to love what you see in the mirror.

For more great content from Ariane, follow her on Instagram or visit her website. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.

Every experiences stagnation at some point in their lives. What’s important, however, is to overcome that obstacle to live your best life. In today's episode of IntHerrupt, Linda is joined by the VP of Partnerships and Alliances at Rivery, Kyra Purvis, to discuss her path of losing and eventually finding her way in her life again.

Kyra has always been an ambitious person.

• As a collegiate soccer player, she used her energy from sports to forge a strong career path worked at startup companies in the tech space.
• While she has worked primarily in sales the majority of her career, she’s dabbled in product marketing and managing partners as well.

When did Kyra lose direction?

• While the feeling ebbs and flows, losing direction starts with either a sudden change or a lack of change. For Kyra, that was the birth of her second child because it was difficult to juggle her ambition with parental responsibilities.
• She had to decide if she wanted to pursue her career at full speed or if she needed to reprioritize.
• She ultimately took a step back in her career and found a new job which allowed her to scale back responsibility while staying closer to home.
• The problem? She didn’t feel like herself. She lost the ability to set goals and determine what she wanted in life. 

Covid encouraged Kyra to pick up an old habit.

• Running allowed her to reflect and find peace in her head - something she hadn’t had for a while.
• She realized she hadn’t been performing her best in anything; she wanted to be a better wife, mom, and employee.
• She started taking bolder steps to change her trajectory. You find every excuse not to do it, but she pushed past them.

How can you avoid feeling lost in life?

• There’s never a clear answer because everyone’s situation is different.
• For Kyra, creating moments for internal reflection and unplugging, like exercise or meditation, gives her the space to check in with herself and have that real conversation.
• Once you realize you’re lost or unhappy, talk to those around you. For Kyra, that meant having a conversation with her husband.
• Make sure your surroundings, like kids, family, or work, understand and support what’s happening. 

By setting goals again, Kyra was able to run her first marathon and be more present in the lives of those she cares about. In addition, setting goals for herself encouraged her family to be more active and ultimately made Kyra feel reconnected in life again. 

Connect with Shauna on Facebook for more content from her. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions. 

Finding passion in life is difficult enough, let alone a second (or third) time. So how can we find that passion later in life? On today’s episode of IntHerrupt, Linda discusses the secret to finding passion in the second act with Shauna Hostetler, who has continued to find that passion in several chapters of her life.

Shauna has had multiple careers and experiences in life that invoked passion:

• Her five children led to her getting highly involved in community and church projects.
• She also had a ten-year journey to obtain her real estate license, started real estate investing, and even ran for political office at one point!

Shauna’s political journey:

• She had supporters and a platform; she knew she could make a difference
• The campaign was heated and led to division within her community - people were forced to pick one side or the other.
• At the end of the passionate back-and-forth, Shauna won. However, the contention along the way made her unhappy. She knew she would be spending more time mending fences rather than helping her community.
• The Monday after the election, she had to go into the county office for a recount. At the end of the recount, she lost. And she was relieved. She congratulated her opponent and was excited not to be involved.
• She learned a lot and met many people. But, most importantly, she realized she didn’t have to hold a political office to make an impact.

How does Shauna find passion in different seasons of life?

• She finds passion in making a positive impact on others, whether that’s creating a fundraiser, collecting holiday gifts for those who need them, or finding ways to meet needs in the community.
• A second act isn’t necessarily the final act. There can be a third, fourth, or fifth. Don’t feel obligated to tie yourself down in a path for the rest of your life. You can change.

How can someone overcome the feelings of “is this all there is”?

• She encourages people to find new experiences and opportunities in life to prevent stagnation.
• Listen to different podcasts, read different books, and meet new people. Those will inspire you to turn left instead of right the next time you face a fork in the road.
• Shauna embraces a focus on depth. Use your time to go one inch wide but one-mile deep. Rather than slightly focus on many things, focus on the one thing you want to focus on. 

How has she found fulfillment at different points in life?

• Sometimes life is just mundane; not everything is fulfilling. We have to accept that.
• However, she finds fulfillment whenever she’s making a difference for other people. 
• Currently, she finds it very fulfilling to help people in their real estate work, walking and comforting people through a substantial financial investment.

Connect with Shauna on Facebook for more content from her. Do you have stories to tell? Connect with Linda to share them. This podcast is produced by TSE Studios. Check out other podcasts by TSE Studios, including this episode’s sponsor, The Sales Evangelist, helping new and struggling sellers close more deals and achieve their sales goals. Subscribe to the IntHERrupt Podcast so you won’t miss a single show. Find us on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, and Stitcher. Audio created by Ryan Rasmussen Productions.